Protection of the euro against counterfeiting, PERICLES action programme: extension

 The committee adopted the report by Augustín DÍAZ de MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, ES) broadly approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a number of amendments:

- the programme should be extended up until December 2013, rather than December 2011 as proposed by the Commission, so that it can be adapted to take account of the financial perspective for 2007-2013, thereby enabling the future requirements of Member States that adopt the euro as their single currency to be addressed;

- the budget should therefore be increased to take account of this extension of the programme from 6 to 8 years. MEPs also called for a further 10% increase to take account of the expansion of the geographical area of the programme to include those countries which will shortly accede to the Customs Union and the countries bordering the EU. The committee therefore proposed that the budget should be EUR 8.8 million (i.e. EUR 1.1 million per year) for the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2013;

- financing decisions must be subject to financial control by the Commission and to audits by the Court of Auditors;

- cofinancing should be 70% rather than 80% as originally proposed, but this could be increased to 90% in exceptional circumstances;

- the suitability of projects should be cross-checked against the relevant policy priorities and work already being carried out or planned;

- to improve scrutiny and transparency, a Pericles advisory committee should be set up and an annual progress report on the programme should be sent to Parliament and Council. Moreover, assessments should be made at mid-term and on completion of the programme.